Around the League: Seattle stretches the field, Columbus benefits from Gonzalez sale
Seattle relies on its movement and its width to tear apart Portland
It is all too tempting for Seattle to focus the brunt of its attacking efforts through the middle of the park. The presence of Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins up front exacerbates the desire to get the ball down, let the wide players tuck into the middle to provide support and move it from back to front quickly.
Sounders FC boss Sigi Schmid altered course a bit and reinforced the need to stretch the field horizontally ahead of the 4-2 victory at Portland. Brad Evans and Marco Pappa both like to drift inside, but they took wider spots to create spacing. Those efforts -- coupled with an increased willingness from Dempsey and Martins to drop and link further afield -- helped to create the perfect storm at Providence Park.
By combining the desire to operate in wider areas with the active movement required to make the best use of the channels created, Sounders FC pulled apart the Timbers’ rickety defensive shape. Portland found itself forced into difficult decisions and watched as its lack of midfield pressure left the back four exposed.
Seattle's rampant first half underscored the benefits. Dempsey and Martins worked on the left flank to allow Dempsey to cut inside and ring the post. The buildup to Martins’ opener included a thorough examination of the right flank by Evans and a 14-pass sequence from back to front. And the combination of directness and width showed on the sweeping counter for the second goal, too.
Variation often falls by the wayside when the first option generates so much profit. This match showed the utility of diversifying the approach play and watching the entire setup benefit as a result of it. If Sounders FC can maintain this sort of balance moving forward, then other teams will struggle to contain them.
Giancarlo Gonzalez is expected to leave Columbus for Italian side Palermo in the coming days.
Columbus offers a template to follow with Giancarlo Gonzalez sale
Giancarlo Gonzalez earned rave reviews for his performances at the World Cup and piqued the interest of European teams during the process. His displays ultimately pointed him toward the door mere months after signing from Norwegian side Vålerenga for a reported $250,000 transfer fee, per the Columbus Dispatch.
Credit the Crew for making the most of an unexpected opportunity. Instead of defiantly attempting to hold onto a player secured earlier this season and stopping him from making a lucrative move, Columbus coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter focused on extracting top dollar for his center back. He kept Gonzalez’s name in the press and waited for the right offer to come through.
Palermo eventually tabled a $5 million bid for Gonzalez to satisfy every involved party. If the deal is wrapped early this week, it will mark the record fee for a MLS defender. The sum will get split between MLS, the Crew and Vålerenga, but the profit should provide the Crew with a hefty chunk of allocation money for the winter (mid-to-high six figures) and a significant sum to bolster other soccer-related operations (investor/operators are bound to reinvent any transfer fees generated).
These deals are the lifeblood of a club within the salary budget system because they replenish the reserves and provide an opportunity to augment the squad. Gonzalez will leave a gaping hole in defense with the Crew in the midst of a playoff push, but the long-term benefits of acquiring resources and strengthening the infrastructure of the club made this deal a straightforward one for the Crew to complete.
FC Dallas hits full flight when Tesho Akindele and Fabian Castillo find space to turn and run against a stretched opponent.
Quick hits
Gonzalez’s impending departure did little to distract the Crew from its playoff chase. The suddenly prolific outfit exposed Houston’s pliable defensive core en route to a 3-0 victory at Crew Stadium. Much of the credit – as always – rests with clever runs through the channel and the ability to locate them time and time again …
FC Dallas extended its unbeaten run to 10 matches by once again stretching the field to make the best use of its pace. The winning goal -- a comprehensive and quick buildup capped by a fine Fabian Castillo finish inside the far post -- in the 2-1 victory over Real Salt Lake offers a tidy example of FCD at its best. …
Real Salt Lake striker Joao Plata received a deserved callup to the Ecuador squad on Monday afternoon. His form this season warrants a place in the squad for a post-World Cup tour. Like recent Mexico inclusion Erick Torres, Plata now must earn his spot over the long haul. ….
D.C. United conducted an exercise on the break to slice apart Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night. The movement in space improved substantially when Fabian Espindola returned to the starting XI. It showed against a Sporting side unable to set a coherent line with the proper depth to cope with the concerns. ….
The big question for Ben Olsen in midweek: Does the visit to LA Galaxy offer yet another chance to rotate the squad? The extra points procured at Sporting Park may permit a heavier hand than originally anticipated. The return of Eddie Johnson from a two-match suspension supplies a helpful alternative to freshen up the starting XI. ….
Similar questions likely won’t haunt Mike Petke as his Red Bulls prepare for a visit from C.D. FAS on Tuesday night (8:00p.m. ET, FOX Sports 2). This CONCACAF Champions League opener provides an ideal opening for New York to rest the first-choice players ahead of a critical trip to D.C. United on Sunday.
